ENTERCOM BUFFALO CHATTER

[GeorgeKramer]

Thanks to some sources in the sales and engineering departments, I've learned a few things about recent discussions within the walls of 500 Corporate Parkway in Amherst.

Most of this is just speculation and some is based on rumors that are simply flying around the building, but there appears to be some serious talk about some minor changes to the on-air programming schedules for WGR and WBEN in the short term and the possibility of some major changes on both stations in the long term.

Here ya go:

- Mike Schopp is interested in exploring the option of doing general talk if/when Sandy Beach hangs up his mic, which may not be for quite awhile, but Mike wants to look at a new line of work while remaining a broadcaster. I've been told Schopp has been expressing non-sports (and I'm not talking silly things like TV shows and breakfast cereals) opinions via Facebook and Twitter (I don't "follow" Mike on either) and has been bouncing some ideas off of Wenger, Reid and Robb about the idea of him switching from 550 AM to 930 AM.

-Jeremy White wants to move to PM drive. He's ready to spread his wings and if Schopp and Bulldog were to ever be split up for whatever reason, he wants to be the other guy on that show. Howard Simon is the top dog on the morning drive show and Jeremy is ready for a change to advance his career.

- "Coach Sal" will be heard from often on the weekend on WGR during the football and hockey seasons. Some of the sports update guys and producers at WGR aren't thrilled with his hiring, but he's going to be their main talk show host on Saturdays and Sundays and MAY even fill in for Schopp for the Bills postgame shows for some of the late December games.

- Some sales reps want to bring back Ron Dobson's 7-10 pm show on WBEN but management (at headquarters and here in Buffalo) are against it for personnel expense reasons.

- John Zach has no plans to retire at this point in time. Some would like to see him move on, but he enjoys the gig and is paid well.

- Schopp sniffed around a bit about possibly being considered for Andy Roth's job as WGR P.D. but wanted to keep his on-air gig and management is not interested in that type of working arrangement.

- WGR is well respected throughout the COUNTRY for their Sabres pregame and postgame shows. Both programs are popular, sell easily and are well produced.

Discuss and debate if you'd like. Interesting items for the last day of August.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Anything that gets Jeremy White off the morning show is good with me.

 

[Bob1370]

Dobson's return would be a great plus for the station and obviously the sales staff thinks he's a much easier sell than the syndicated stuff they have now at night. The money argument will eventually win out (it almost always does) and he may very well be back sometime after the new year if sales really wants him.

How is Limbaugh doing? Is he as hard a sell in Buffalo as he is in some other markets, and are his numbers trending smaller and older the way they are in markets like New York City? If his carriage contract with WBEN is running out soon, and if his fee remains as "confiscatory" as he likes to claim, maybe noon to 3 will become the time they try Mike Schopp out as a general-interest host, if for no other reason than the likelihood of better positive cash flow in that daypart. IMHO he'll do well there.

Heard Sandy recently--he's still bringing a high energy level to the show, he doesn't sound like a guy who's going to be walking away any time soon, nor should he be, he's still got the chops and agree or disagree with him, he does an entertaining show.

 

[leelee]

I've been listening more to Sandy with the lack of options at that time slot, and he's definitely not slowing down. I may not agree with RIGHT-WING RADIO, but he's still putting out a quality show with a variety of topics that's easy to listen to.

Schopp has been sports only on Twitter, and he's private with Facebook.

If White wants to spread his wings, he should consider getting out of Buffalo.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I still think that it would more interesting to put White on with Mensa Mike. Call it the "Knowitall Show". Put Bulldog on mid-days, and give Howard Simon a little more space, and a few more experts to call on in the morning.

 

[Element9]

Buffalo's only commercial news-talk station is aging-out. Beach is approaching 70 and although he brings it more often than not, his act appeals to men 55+ and older. Presumably white and in the suburbs. Not a crime, simply a fact. Considering the city of Buffalo is bleeding residents, it's the right thing to do to appeal to listeners in Amherst, Williamsville and Lancaster. WBEN's strength begins with Persons 45+. Its largest demo is 55+ and draws its greatest strength from the 65+ demo. It's old. According to the Spring '11 Arbitron, the highest rated daypart is midday. Bauerle would have us think it's all his doing, but the fact is Limbaugh occupies three hours of that daypart.

Simulcasting WBEN on FM in its current form will not automatically bring younger listeners because the station's content and style don't hit that mark. As has been noted in another thread, any gains made by WBEN on FM have been at the expense of the AM, and when the loss of the Lake's ratings are taken into consideration, the total share is down.

To those of us who post and read these threads, Dobson seems young. That's because the WBEN regulars appeal to old ears and old attitudes. Is Dobson different? Yes. Is he the tonic of youth? Comparatively speaking, yes. Will he attract younger listeners? Younger than WBEN's present core? Very likely. He'd be a much better fit than Mensa Mike who, while knowledgeable, consistently sounds condescending, detached and all too impressed with himself. Beach at 75 would perform better than Schopp at 55. But if Beach cashes out, Dobson would be a much better bet than Schopp. As to any talk of Schopp programming, the word "unbearable" comes to mind, immediately followed by the word "mutiny."

Want to put WBEN in full blown youth mode?

Bring Star's Sue O'Neil or Kiss's Janet Snyder over for a weekend shift and test them out. They'd be far better than that loony woman from Williamsville who appeals to the Palin-Bachmann contingent. )Damning with faint praise.) Snyder would likely turn her nose up at such an offering. AM's beneath her. O'Neil might not be interested. Each is talented and established in their respective music radio environments, but doing talk radio might invigorate them and extend their careers. Or it might tax them beyond their mental and professional capabilities. No doubt it would be a test of the high self opinion each has.

If a news talk station cannot attract a healthy share of 35-44 year old listeners, it won't have any fresh blood and will age-out. That's what's happening to WBEN. Simply being on FM won't change that fact. And Bob1370, the Jim McLaughlin era has long passed. Great as it was, that was 30 years ago. Those "young" WBEN listeners and ratings of which you so ardently speak weren't all that young to begin with. These days they're 65+ or dead.

BTW, the Oldies, Classic Hits and Classic Rock formats are in the same check out lane, only a few shopping carts behind.

 

[Bob1370]

"And Bob1370, the Jim McLaughlin era has long passed. Great as it was, that was 30 years ago. Those "young" WBEN listeners and ratings of which you so ardently speak weren't all that young to begin with. These days they're 65+ or dead. "

I admit hating to give up a part of my youth. But hey. hitting the 35-54 sweet spot of the market (which we did back then) meant success. It won't be easy to repeat now, but it wasn't easy to accomplish then, and we did it then.

And I'm not one who believes it can't happen once more. You CAN re-invigorate talk if it speaks to the interests and concerns of the target demo.

I'm watching what WOR in New York is doing right now. It's tweaking its format by canning shrill ultra-conservative Steve Malzberg (who makes Bauerle sound like a liberal by comparison) and replacing him with David Paterson, a guy who's tested well in guest hosting shots and brings warmth and wit to the table. Whatever his flaws as Governor may have been, he shows promise behind the mike. If Paterson moves the numbers in a positive direction he could be the start of a new wave of hosts who aren't fighting the culture wars of the 80s and 90s any more. That can influence what you hear in Buffalo, Rochester and all the large Great Lakes markets, and give talk an extended lifespan as a viable, profitable format. It doesn't all hang on the former Governor's shoulders, by any means, but if he succeeds, it could speed the renewal process which right now is overdue.

 

[ddavis]

Bob1370 you hit the nail right on the head when you said "You CAN re-invigorate talk if it speaks to the interests and concerns of the target demo."
Strangely enough WLVL is heading in that direction. Although it's a smaller station they have a call in talk show @ 11:15 four days a week. The lines are jammed, people are complaining about not being able to get thru. The host is talking mostly local issues and it's two solid hours live, then they replay one of the hours at @ 5:05pm after the news. Should be interesting to see what they do next.

 

[jas2525]

I do like Schopp and think he definitely has more to offer than just sports chatter. However, I also think Dobson would be a much better fit for a noon-3 spot or PM drive. While I find them both intelligent and funny, I do think Dobson is much more dynamic in presentation.

 

[GeorgeKramer]

Schopp and Bulldog must be relieved they no longer have to do the "Extra Point" show on Monday mornings.

Those duties are going to be taken over by Tim Graham of The Buffalo News and WGR's own Joe Buscaglia.

Good decision by Wenger/Robb/Reid. It always sounded like Mike and Chris were pretty miserable if it was their week to do that show, and given how poor the team has played in recent years, I can't say I blame them.

I am curious if Thurman Thomas will still be a part of that Monday morning show. I personally am not a big fan of Squirmin' Thurman on the radio, but obviously someone at Entercom Buffalo liked what he has to say after each game.

 

[leelee]

Even if you like Schopp & Parker, they need to be off any of the Bills-based shows. Good move, makes the following Mondays listenable.

 

[DJ Hukhers Roll Call]

I am curious if Thurman Thomas will still be a part of that Monday morning show. I personally am not a big fan of Squirmin' Thurman on the radio, but obviously someone at Entercom Buffalo liked what he has to say after each game.

Let's hope Thurman is not part of the Monday morning show. Hell of a player, but he is terrible on-air. Doesn't speak particularly well and offered no real insight in my opinion.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Even if you like Schopp & Parker, they need to be off any of the Bills-based shows. Good move, makes the following Mondays listenable.

Wow. What's that say about 'GR's afternoon drive team?